Course of dealing

A clearly recognisable pattern of previous conduct between parties to a business transaction. Where such conduct becomes the subject of litigation, a court will examine what the parties intended when they entered into the contract. The supposition will be that the parties drew up the contract taking into account the customary manner in which business has previously been transacted prior to signing the contract, and that customary behaviour, or course of dealing, will be highly relevant to ascertaining the intentions of the parties.